Apparatus for producing hard homogeneous fuel or similar objects from peat, peat moss, lignite, or the like



Nov. 13, 1928.

1,691,196 B. JIROTKA RD HOMOGENEOUS FUEL 0R SIMILAR 0 LIGNITE, OR THELIKE swam APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HA FROM FEAT, FEAT MOSS Original FiledMay 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,196

B. JIROTKA APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HARD HOMOGENEOUS FUEL 0R SIMILAROBJECTS FROM FEAT, FEAT MOSS, LIGNITE, OR THE LIKE Original Filed May29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //VVEN 70R 4, B. who/7m Patented Nov. 13,1928.

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOHUMIL J'IROTKA, F BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM DR. OTTOSPIRENGER, PATENTVERWERTUNG JIROTKA MIT BESCHRZNKTER HAF'IUNG, 0]

'V'ADUZ, LICHTENSTEIN.

APPARATUS FOR, PRODUCING HARD HOMOGENEOUS FUEL 0R SIMILAR OBJECTS ZEROPEAT, PEAT MOSS, LIGNITE, OR THE LIKE.

Original application filed May 29, 1926, Serial No. 112,536, and inGermany August 13, 1921. Divided and this application filed February 11,1927.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing hard homogeneous fuelor similar objects from peat, peat'moss, lignite or the like accordingto the process described and claimed in my co-pending application,Serial No. 112,536, filed May 29, 1926, of which former application thepresent is a division.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a hopper by means of which the materialis fed to the worm 2. By the rotation of the latter the material is fedto a grinding device, and is fed or pressed into the space 3 between thegrinding members 4 and 5 of the grinding device. As the grinding member5 rotates the material collected in the space 3 is pushed continuallyoutwards through centrifugal force, so that it undergoes a very finetrituration. 6, 7 and 8 are supports, 9 an adjustingscrew for the shaft10, that is, for the grind ing or rubbing members 4 and 5. 11 and 12 arefast-and-loose pulleys for driving the worm. 13 and 14 is the drive forthe rotatable grinding member 5.

In Fig. 2 the drive 13, 14 for the rotatable grinding-member 5 islocated behind the worm 2.

The grinding members 4 and 5 consist preferably of coarse emery, steelbrushes l6,

- Figs. 1 and 2) or of blades or segments 15 The blades or segments 15Figs. 3 and 4). are so arranged, that as a result of the centrifugalforce developed by rotation, they run very close to the grinding member4, whereby the y break up or crush the material so fed between thestones 4 and 5.

Fig. 4 shows a grinding device located in Serial No. 167,508v

front of the delivery nozzle 21 of a press.

Upon the nozzle 21 a disc 22 consisting of coarse emery or metal is soarranged that the segments 15 rotating round the axle 23 cut up thematerial. As a result of centrifugal force the finely cut material isground on the disc 22 and moved progressively outwards, so thateventually it is flung out in the direction of the arrow 24-. V

The grinding devices can also be mounted upon discs and may consist ofsteel plates 17, 18 of smooth or comb-like shape (Fig. 5); they can beadjusted at will by means of the screws 19. Such grinding members havethe advantage that they keep themselves sharp by use, since they consistof thin material, preferably sheet steel. The fixed disc of the grinderis marked 20 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 shows a cylindrical grinding member 25 in front of the deliverynozzle 26 ofa worm-feed press 2. This grinding member 25 may be of hard,that is to say, sharpening material, for instance, of emery, of suitablestone or even of steel brushes. The press 2 feeds the material in thedirection of the arrow 30 against the circumference of the cyl-' inder25, by which since it rotates at a high speed, the material is carriedalong and flung out in the direction of the arrow 27. The

abutment 28 of stone or metal is suitably adjustable.

Fig. 7 shows also the use of a cylindrical grinding member 29 which maybe provided with steel brushes. This latter is so bifilt into therestricted portion 30 of the delivery channel 36 of a press, that itforces and breaks up the material against the grinding check 31. Thegrinding Check 31 is pivotally mounted at 32 and rendered yielding bymeans of a weight 33 or a spring. If extraneous bodies, which the rollercannot crush are introduced, this cheek 31 yields by the weight 33 beingraised, and the extraneous body is flung out.

. In Fig. 8 a device, similar to that in Fig. 7 is shown, only here theunder cheek also, consists of a cylinder 29, which rotates more slowlythan the other cylinder '29, so that between the two cylinders, onaccount of their different peripheral speeds, a rubbing, that is to say,a grinding process takes place.

These cylindrical grinding-members can also be so built into a press,that they press out the material groundby them through a nozzle in stripform, in which case members are provided to clean off the material whichmay cling to the cylinders.

Fig. 9 shows a similar arrangement to Fig. 1. If the disc 34 is set inrotation by the shaft 10, the material, which is fed from the directionof the arrow 36, is introduced into the space between thetwo surfaces3738 and there drawn by the wire brushes 35 over the fixed surface 38until it is flung out at the periphery of the disc. During this longgrinding process the colloids are dispersed on account of the pressure,the heat and the continual working of the mass b the wire brushes 35, sothat the mass on de ivery very quickly ields up the water containedtherein and ries hard. I

Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9, except that the conical stone 34 of Fig/9is replaced by a lenticular disc 39, upon the rim of which a perforatedframe 41 of thin sheet-metal or cloth or the like is located. Theplastic mass slips on the conical surface towards the rim and the water,which can pass easily through V the perforated sieve or the cloth, isflung out by centrifugal force in the direction of the. arrows atright-angles to the shaft 10. In. this way the mass leaves the machine,for the most part, free of water.

In Fig. 11 this surrounding frame 41 has a different form to that inFig. 10. The water passes out in the direction of the arrows 44, and themass carried along by the supports 43, leaves thedevice in the directionof the arrows 42.

The grinding members can rotate either vertically or horizontally andthe shape of the perforated surfaces 41 can be as desired, for example,round, angular, cylindrical, funnel-shaped, or vat-shaped etc. Figs. 12,13 and 14 show, by way of example, several constructional forms of thegrinding discs. In Fig. 12 the wire brushes consist of fiat steel strips45, bent in the shape of a U. 46 and 47 ar e lenticular sheet-metaldiscs adjusted to the curve of the grind-stone, provided withperforations, for example, quadrangular holes, and held together 'bybolts 48. The flat brushes 45 bent in the shape of a U, are so providedthat according to the nature of their employment they can be used eitherflat or on edge. They can, however, also be arranged alternately flat oredge up as in Fig. 12.

Figs. 13 and 14 show a grinding disc 52 with segment-like brushes 49.These brushes ma be of wood, metal or other suitable ma-. terlal, andcanbe attached to. thedisc by means of angular, or T pieces 50. They canbe secured against flying out owing to centrifugal "force, by means oflocking-members 51, and they can also be screwed on toi the disc 52.Spade-like dividersfor the-material (Fig. 13

fed in are marked 53. The direction of rotation of the disc is shown bythe arrow 54.

In ad ition to peat and peat-moss, lignite, which usually contains aconsiderable quantity of water, may be made to give up its water morequicklythan would otherwise be the. case, by means of the fine grinding,rubbing and heating and the continual working which takes place in thegrinding members as provided by the present invention. For theacceleration of the final process, that is, the drying, steam or hot aircan be introduced between the grinding members, or the latter can beheated electrically or with gas, steam etc. Instead of collecting thefinely divided mass immediately 'on delivery from the machine, it can bescattered over large surfaces by means of the centrifugal forcedeveloped. Thereby the drying process is accelerated and in this mannereither fine or raw material are obtained. If the fine article(granluated or pat coal) is to be obtained the material must be morequickly rake-d together, if raw material is desired, the layers areallowed to get thicker.

The grinding devices here described can be applied to the presentworm-feed presses or to the present rough-grinding-machines, or they maybe located at some distance from them, so that the rough grinding takesplace in the present old machines and the material so prepared is fed,in cake or strip, by means of conveyer belts to the particular grindingor like devices.

Before or after grinding chemicals may be added to the raw material,which will hasten the destruction of the colloids present.

.The grinding members are so arranged that the raw material,,' althoughit has to pass through very small spaces, cannot block up the machine:with the fiat grinding members the material is thrown out by centrifugalforce, with the cylindrical grinders by the progressive rotation of thecylinder or cylinders. r g

The product, which is obtained-by means of the present invention, driesvery quickly and gives a' fuel, which is freer of water, of greater heatvalue, firmer and more convenient'in use, than was hitherto obtainableby mechanical treatment of peat and similar bituminous substances. Asinitial material the peat, or peaty bodies, found in the lower strata,that is the so-called deep peat, is particularly suitable.

By means of the apparatus here described,

it is possible to make hard, compactfuel out of peat or peatcompositions. This is secured in that the raw peat mass first throughmecltanical treatment in the manner described above, and then by theaddition of chemicals or binding means, is convertedinto a thick, fluidand viscous state and is then spread out in thin layers. By means ofthemechanical treatment a very close structure is obtained and by meansof the distribution in layers a very quick drying is effected'throughthe evaporation of the moisture. Since it is not necessary to place any,particular substructure beneath these thin layers, the peat fieldcleared of rubbish or the rubbish turned over, can be used, this beingtreated with chemicals, so that the upper surface of the peat-field orthe reverse'side of the cleared rubbish is rendered impermeable towater. This quality of the surface is obtained preferably by a treatmentWith Waterglass. Several layers can be dried one above the other, if adamp layer is placed upon the under layer which is already dry. Afterthe thin layer of peat has dried and hardened, it can be broken off witha suitable tool and loaded as fuel ready for use.

Another constructional form of the ap paratus consists in that the massfirsit mechanically and then chemically treated is forced throughsuitable shaped pipes, preferably through pipes which are attached tothe press itself. By the use of bent pipes attached to a ribbon press,the mass will issue continually in a kind of shaving or spiral form andwill heap itself up on the ground in a cone. The advantage ofsuch aspiral structure is great for the drying period, for since the massfalls away from the press in thin ribbons or loose coils,the air andwarmth, which effect the drying, can penetrateevery where and acceleratethe latter.

Lastly, objects of a desired kindcan be prepared from peat, peat-mossand the like used as a Wood substitute,-by the apparatus here described.The raw peat, peat-moss or the like, particularly the peaty masses foundin the upper strata, that is the so-called high peat-moss, is groundbetween grindstonesor other similar grinding-members, then if necessary,drying and kneading it together with binding substances or fillingmaterial and then shaping it. By means of the grinding of the peatorlike mass, which is preferably effected in a damp condition or even withthe addition of water, a considerably finer, more homogeneous andconsistent mass is obtained than is usually the case With pulverizationor grinding of such materials, and the mass on account of the Water con:tained therein is plastic, and is suitable for the making of objects ofevery kind, such as picture frames, panelling, and lamp brackets etc. For drying, the peat or like mass can be left to itself in permeablecontainers until it is quite dry. For carving processes the ground peatmass is preferably shaped into blocks, which after drying may be cut upand carved. Also for panelling and the like blocks may be made whichafter drying are sawn up into planks and boards. For moulding, the massis taken from the containers serving for the drying before it has gotwhich driveawaywater, ma be added. lt-

is also possible to add to the mass Wood substances and dyes. Tofacilitate and cheapen the transport of the raw material, the latter maybe dried in a desired manner and loaded at the peat-field, and then atthe works be ground and worked into a plastic mass with the addition ofsulphuric acid, nitric acid, caustic soda, solvents of bitumen and thelike, and furthen shaped, that is pressed with the addition of fillingand bin ding substances, into objects of every kind.

As raw material peat fragments which have been broken up by frost, heat,and the like, may be used.

If no or but very little filling substance is used, the pressing ispreferably effected in two processes; first the plastic mass is pressedin a larger mould, and is then taken out and dried slightly, whereuponthe object after partial drying and shrinking ispressed again in thefinal mould, which is smaller on account of theshrinkage; by these meansa very smooth surfzice and a good cast are obtained.

lforthe preparation of brown card-board or paper the ground peat isdiluted, with or without the addition of the above-mentioned chemicals,and" then worked up into cardboard or paper in the usual card-board orpaper machines.

lclaim:

1. A device for producing hard, homageneous fuel or similar objects frompeat, peatmoss, lignite and the like, comprising a conveying device, incombination-with a cooperating grinding device, the surface of which isprovided with adjustable and elastic rubbing members, said grindingdevice consisting of rotary bodies in spaced relation to each other,means for keeping the rubbing elements of the different grinding membersinto cooperation with each other and perforated receiving aperturessurrounding the exit opening of the grindin members. 7

l 2. A device for pro ucing hard, homogeneous fuel or similar objectsfrom peat,

peat-moss, lignite and the like, comprising a conveying device, incombination witha 00- operating grinding device, the surface of which isprovided with adjustable and elastic rubbing members, said grindingdevice consisting of rotary bodies in spaced relation to each other,means for keeping the rubbing elements of the different grinding membersinto cooperation with each other and rotating perforated receivingapertures surroundice lltl

ing the exit opening of the grinding memers.

3. A device for producing hard, homogeneous fuel or similar objects frompeat, peat-moss, lignite and the like, comprising a pressurefeed channelin combination with a cooperating grinding device,-' the movable surfaceof which is provided with adjustable 5. A device for producing hard,liomoge-.

neous fuel or similar objects frompe'at,

peat-moss, lignite and the like, comprislng a pressure-teed channel incombination with a cooperating grinding device,'the surtace of which isprovided with adjustable and elastic rubbing--rnembers, said grindingdevice con sisting of two members rotating at different speeds and inspaced relation to each other and adapted to act upon each other andtoreceive the massbetween themselves and to finely pulverize the saidmass.

6, A device for producing hard, homogeneous fuel or similar objects frompeat,

peat-moss, lignite and the like, comprismg a pressure-feed channel,combination with a cooperating grinding device, the surface of which isprovided with adjustable and elastic rubbing members, said grindingdevice consisting of rotary bodies in spaced relation to each other andadapted to receive the mass betw-zen themselves and to finely pulverizethe said mass, and means for press in the rubbing members against theopposite grinding elements.

I 7. A device for producing hard, homogeneous fuel or similar objectsfrom peat, peat-moss, lignite and thelike, comprising a pressure-feedchannel, in combination with a cooperating grinding device, the surfaceof which is provided with adjustable and elastic rubbing members, saidgrinding device consisting of rotary bodies in spaced relation to eachother and adapted to act upon each other and to receive the mass betweenthemselves and to finely pulverize the said mass, and means forautomatically pressing the rubbing members against the opposite grindingelements.

8, A. device for producing hard, homogeneous fuel or similar objectsfrom peat, peat-moss, lignite and the like comprising a pressure-feedchannel, in combination with a cooperating grinding device, the'surt'aceof which is provided with adjustable and elastic rubbing members, actingupon each other, said grinding device consisting of rotary bodies inspaced relation to each other, self-sharpening rubbing blades on saidgrinding device, and means for keeping the blades of the grindingmembers into cooperation witheach other.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification.

BOHUMIL JIROTKA

